Scouting Reports- OLB

A-H / I-P / Q-Z

Tyler Replogle                                                                                                                                   Indiana

    Has decent size.  Lacks speed and explosiveness.  Has good instincts and is a sure tackler.  Makes a lot of plays.  Has some experienced at MLB but is much better outside.  Struggles to get off blocks which is compounded when he plays inside.  Missed half of 2007 with a torn ACL.  Limited upside but could help provide a team with depth.

Dwight Roberson                                                                                                                          Oregon St

    Is a little undersized.  Has good athleticism and decent speed.  Is around the ball a lot but doesn't make a lot of plays.  Doesn't have good instincts and lacks discipline.  Isn't always in the right position and at times will run around blocks.  Struggles some at the point of attack.  Had a couple games this past season where teams kept attacking him.  Has physical ability to potentially be a good special teams player.  Is a long shot but has some ability and could be viewed as a developmental prospect.

Craig Robertson                                                                                                                       North Texas

    Has marginal size.  Is a former RB and looks natural with the ball in his hands.  Could also get a look at FB.  Has good speed and quickness.  Flows to the ball well and makes a ton of plays.  Dominant player on his level.  Got some help up front and is a better player when he doesn't have to deal with blockers.  At times will struggle taking on blockers.  Is pretty good in coverage.  Plays on special teams.  Is a little under the radar.  Likely won't ever be a starter but could possibly provide depth and help on special teams. 

Brian Rolle                                                                                                                                        Ohio St

    Extremely short.  Looks more like a S and moves around like a S.  Has good speed and quickness.  Has pretty good change of direction.  Has decent instincts.  This main issue is his size.  He gets engulfed at the point of attack and at times gets obliterated.  Spends time running around blocks.  Struggles to hold ground against physical player in both the run and pass.  Played MLB but will probably fit best outside in a tampa 2 scheme.  Will need to help on special teams, which he should be able to do.  Good college player who lacks ideal size for the NFL and might struggle because of it. 

Kenny Rowe                                                                                                                                      Oregon

    Former DE who lacks the size to stay there and has marginal size for LB.  Has some quickness off the edge.  Plays faster than he times but still only has decent speed.  Will need to learn how to play in reverse.  Looks stiff and struggles to move in space.  Is a little straight-lined and isn't real good laterally.  Has mostly been just a pass rusher off the edge and isn't overly productive in other aspects of the game.  Has some ability but doesn't figure to be more than a situational pass rusher on the next level.

Brian Smith                                                                                                                                Notre Dame

    Has decent size and athleticism.  Was more productive early in his career than he was late in his career but was playing in a different system.  Has long arms and good lateral quickness.  Isn't a dominate player but is solid in all aspects.  Used him differently in different games and was solid.  In some games they lined him up so that he could rush the passer, in another game they used him in coverage and he even filled in at MLB and did a good job stopping the run.  Has some versatility.  Solid player who might hear his name in the latter part of the draft.

D.J. Smith                                                                                                                              Appalachian St

    Undersized small school LB.  Has been really productive.  Has good speed, playing faster than he times and good feet.  Is a little bit tight in the hips but still has pretty good change of direction.  Has good instincts and is a solid tackler.  Is similar to former Appalachian St player Dexter Coakley.  He doesn't quite have his speed and explosiveness but it is a pretty fair comparison.  Makes a lot of plays away from him.  Struggles at the point of attack some because he lacks bulk.  Can get engulfed at the point of attack from time to time and every now and then will get caught running around blocks.  Is pretty good in coverage.  Size is a big issue and he will have to play in the right system.  Is a little underrated and will likely be drafted late in the draft or be a priority free agent.

Kendall Smith                                                                                                                                Florida St

    Lacks ideal size but has good athleticism.  Plays faster than he times and has decent quickness.  Has decent recognition and is a decent tackler.  Flows to the ball well.  Struggles a little to get off blocks.  With his athleticism he could play outside and does have some experience there.  Struggled with TEs when he did play outside.  Is decent in coverage.  Decent college player who lacks an elite skill but is decent in all areas. 

Malcolm Smith                                                                                                                                       USC

    Undersized with really good athletic ability.  Has really good speed.  Is the brother of Giants WR Steve Smith.  Has ability to get a turnover and return it for a TD.  Has some closing speed.  Could also get a look at S.  Is a good athlete but isn't a great player.  Really lacks instincts and is hesitant in his play which saps some of his athleticism.  Really struggles taking on blockers and getting off blocks.  Too often he ends up catching the blocker.  Isn't always in the right position and at times will overpursue the play.  Will get a shot because he is a plus athlete but he will need to develop into a better player.

Toronto Smith                                                                                                              Florida International

    Really undersized player who has good speed.  Was the heart of the defense.  Looks more like a S and could potentially get a look there or at OLB.  Has a LB mentality.  Makes a lot of plays and flows to the ball well.  Struggles taking on blockers due to his lack of size.  At times can be engulfed at the point of attack.  Good college player who lacks size but may be able to help in various backup roles as well as special teams.

Blake Sorenson                                                                                                                             Wisconsin

    Is undersized.  Has a good nose for the ball.  Struggles to get off blocks.  Is better out in space where he doesn't have to worry about blockers.  Lacks speed for S.  Has good hands for the INT.  Will deliver some big hits but is a limited athlete.  Has a special teams personality and might be able to make a team that way.

Craig Stephens                                                                                                                                  Auburn

    Decent college player who isn't a difference maker.  Has marginal size.  Times well but doesn't really play to those numbers.  Has a tendency to over pursue the play and will miss a number of tackles.  Is a decent tackler and does ok getting off blocks but isn't overly exciting in either of those areas.  Was suspended for undisclosed reasons at the beginning of the season.  Just doesn't show anything that convinces you that he will win a roster spot.

John Stokes                                                                                                                                  Vanderbilt

    Has good size.  Has a little athleticism but isn't a great athlete.  Gives good effort and can be physical against the run.  Is a little stiff and struggles some in coverage.  Doesn't have a lot of quickness.  Isn't an overly exciting player but he also has long snapping experience.

J.T. Thomas                                                                                                                            West Virginia

    Lacks some height but has decent bulk.  Has good speed and athletic ability.  Is physical and aggressive and likes to be in the action.  Plays with good effort and flies around the field.  Can be overaggressive and will overrun plays from time to time.  Doesn't always show good instincts and takes some weird angles, which will cause him to give up some big plays.  Really struggles at the point of attack.  Has gotten a little better but still struggles to get off blocks.  Could be a good special teams player while he develops as a LB. 

Terence Thomas                                                                                                                            Villanova

    Active player who is a little undersized.  Has a good nose for the ball and is often around the play.  Has decent but not great speed.  Really struggles at the point of attack.  At times will get bounced back by the blocker.  At times he will try to spin out of blocks rather than battle through them and at other times he gets caught going around blocks.  Good college player who might lack the ability needed for the next level.

LaMarcus Thompson                                                                                                                  Tennessee

    High motor player who lacks size.  Doesn't have great speed but typically plays faster than he times.  Always around the ball and is all over the field.  Has good quickness and decent instincts.  Has really good change of direction.  Sometimes struggles to get off blocks due to his size but at other times shows really good ability to slip blocks.  Is decent in coverage.  Shows a lot of pride.  Natural limitations will make it hard for him but he is a good college player who will battle for a roster spot.

Damian Thornton                                                                                                                                  Duke

    Has good size.  Lacks speed and is a limited athlete.  Gives good effort but is a marginal prospect who might end up moving to MLB.

Chris Walker                                                                                                                                Tennessee

    Played DE but has decent size for LB.  Had a little experience but will have to learn how to drop into coverage.  Is a fairly fluid athlete.  Has decent speed.  Play was a little inconsistent.  At times he showed some quickness off the edge and played with good leverage.  Didn't really show much at the Shrine game.  Good college player who could be a decent developmental type.

Jason Werner                                                                                                                                     Purdue

    Has good height but lacks some bulk.  Is generally around the ball and makes some plays.  Has good speed but doesn't completely play to his timed speed.  Is a little stiff but not bad.  Has good instincts in coverage.  Good college player who has the look of a backup/special teams player but has a history of back injuries and missed 2006 and 2008 because of it.

Julius Wilkerson                                                                                                               South Carolina St

    Is a little undersized.  Has decent quickness and plays faster than he times.  At times he will show good technique and lateral ability.  Other times he will duck his head and dive at the blocker.  Really needs to be more consistent.  Struggles to get off blocks because he lacks bulk.  Transferred from Clemson.  Wasn't consistent on this level and will be making a big jump in competition. 

Jabara Williams                                                                                                                Stephen F. Austin

    Is a little undersized.  Has really good athletic ability.  Can really run.  Has good backpedal and can change direction.  Is really good in open space.  Has gotten a little bigger and better but still really struggles to get off blocks.  Only has average instincts and will be making a big jump in competition.  At this point is more of an athlete than player but has really good skills to work with and has improved some.  The type of developmental player who will hear his name called in the sixth or seventh round.

Jacquian Williams                                                                                                                    South Florida

    Has decent size.  Has really good speed and explosiveness.  Outstanding getting out in the flat.  Pursues the ball well.  Good player when he can run free.  Really struggles to get off blocks.  Looks like he would be a great special teams player but he doesn't really stand out there.  Great athlete who needs some developmental work.  Figures to be an undrafted free agent that teams will rush to secure (whenever they will be able to).

Jeffrey Williams                                                                                                                    Gardner-Webb

    Has marginal size.  Dominated his level of competition when he has been on the field.  Has good speed and instincts.  Had 18 tackles in season opener and then injured his knee and missed all but the last game.  Missed the majority of the previous season due to an injury to the same knee.  Will be making a big jump in competition and has durability concerns.  Will likely get a shot but as an undrafted guy.

Jarvis Wilson                                                                                                               Florida International

    Played DE but has marginal size for LB.  Has good speed and quickness.  Plays hard and has a good motor.  Pretty tough and help up fairly well on the line despite having ideal bulk for a S.  Might be a little stiff in the hips.  Developmental type who had a good season but will need time to learn a new position.

Lawrence Wilson                                                                                                                        Connecticut

    Lacks ideal size.  Has good athletic ability.  Has good speed and shows good change of direction.  Is good in coverage and shows some closing ability.  The key for Wilson is whether or not he is going to be physical or not.  He struggles to get off blocks and at times ends up running around avoiding blocks and trying to avoid contact.  When he does this, he is not overly effective.  When he does decide to be physical and battle he is more effective and makes more plays.  This trend will be compounded in the NFL.  Has ability to be a starter but needs to be more physical. 

Martez Wilson                                                                                                                                    Illinois

    Has good size with long arms.  Has experience inside and out and can play both in any scheme on the next level.  Has really good speed and athleticism.  Doesn't have the quickest recognition but makes up with it with his elite athleticism.  At times he will struggle a little taking on blocks but he isn't horrible there.  Benefitted this past season from the dominant play of Corey Liuget.  This is one of the reasons I believe that he would be better outside in a 3-4 scheme than inside.  He is also a good pass rusher off the corner and enjoys it.  Has long arms and closing speed which gave Ts fits.  Missed 2009 with a herniated disc in his neck.  If his neck checks out he could hear his name in round two and maybe even the end of round one.  Is an elite athlete who might be just starting to scratch the surface.

Dorian Wood                                                                                                                                     Kent St

    Has decent size but gets engulfed at the point of attack.  Plays with a good motor and makes a number of plays but has limited athletic ability.  Doesn't seem like much of a prospect but might get a shot due to his production.     

K.J. Wright                                                                                                                             Mississippi St

    Has good size and is athletic.  Has good speed and at times is really good in space.  Doesn't have great instincts and at times get caught in no man's land.  Has good flexibility and can move in reverse.  At times they would line him up at DE during passing situations and he showed decent pass rush ability.  Might be better in a 3-4 scheme.  Struggles to get off blocks.  Has a ton of experience and has been good but not great.  With his athleticism you would think that he would be more dominant.  Looks like a good 3-4 prospect who could develop into a starter down the road.

Lawrence Young                                                                                                                   Central Florida

    Undersized player who will make some plays.  Isn't dominant but takes on blockers and holds up well at the line of scrimmage despite his lack of bulk.  Really lacks speed and athletic ability though.  Might get a shot but is a long shot.